t, therefore, will be accepted by those in quest of
authoritative opinion.

Reference will also be made to spoken English when its constructions
differ from those of the literary language, and to vulgar English when
it preserves forms which were once, but are not now, good English.

It may be suggested to the student that the only way to acquire
correctness is to watch good usage _everywhere_, and imitate it.

NOUNS.

394. Nouns have no distinct forms for the nominative and objective
cases: hence no mistake can be made in using them. But some remarks
are required concerning the use of the possessive case.

[Sidenote: _Use of the possessive. Joint possession._]

395. When two or more possessives modify the same noun, or indicate
joint ownership or possession, the possessive sign is added to the
last noun only; for example,--

Live your _king and country's_ best support.--ROWE.

Woman, _sense and nature's_ easy fool.--BYRON.

_Oliver and Boyd's_ printing office.--MCCULLOCH.

_Adam and Eve's_ morning hymn.--MILTON.

In _Beaumont and Fletcher's_ "Sea Voyage," Juletta tells,
etc.--EMERSON.

[Sidenote: _Separate possession._]

396. When two or more possessives stand before the same noun, but
imply separate possession or ownership, the possessive sign is used
with each noun; as,--

He lands us on a grassy stage, Safe from the _storm's_ and
_prelate's_ rage.--MARVELL

Where were the sons of Peers and Members of Parliament in
_Anne's_ and _George's_ time?--THACKERAY.

_Levi's_ station in life was the receipt of custom; and
_Peter's_, the shore of Galilee; and _Paul's_, the antechamber of
the High Priest.--RUSKIN.

Swift did not keep _Stella's_ letters. He kept _Bolingbroke's,_
and _Pope's_, and _Harley's_, and _Peterborough's_.--THACKERAY.

An actor in one of _Morton's_ or _Kotzebue's_ plays.--MACAULAY.

Putting _Mr. Mill's_ and _Mr. Bentham's_ principles together.
--_Id._

397. The possessive preceding the gerund will be considered under
the possessive of pronouns (Sec. 408).

PRONOUNS.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

I. NOMINATIVE AND OBJECTIVE FORMS.

398. Since most of the personal pronouns, together with the relative
_who_, have separate forms for nominative and objective use, there are
two general rules that require attention.

[Sidenote: _General rules._]

(1) The _nominative use_ is